Scotland v Spain: Gary Caldwell calls on Scots to show some arrogance

It is not difficult to accommodate the notion of arrogance and Spain in the same breath, but it is more than a stretch to imagine timid and inhibited Scotland strutting against the world and European champions at Hampden.

All the same, that is the ingredient required if the Scots are to take anything at home to the Group I favourites, according to one of Craig Levein's players.

Despite widespread criticism of Levein's hyper-defensive tactics in the 1-0 defeat by the Czech Republic in Prague on Friday night, Gary Caldwell made a strong case for the manager's ploy, although he also argued that the time has come to be more expansive against the Spanish.

"I think we've got to take a lot of heart out of the way we played in Prague," said the Wigan defender.

"We defended well at times and we worked hard for each other. I don't think that anyone can point the finger at anyone. It was a real team effort and we have to take that into Tuesday but with a bit more composure and maybe a bit more arrogance.

"When we get the ball we have to keep it for longer periods at this level."

Caldwell has cause to speak in such terms. It was his goal – one of two he has scored for his country in 39 appearances – that gave Scotland victory over the then World Cup runners-up, France, in a Euro 2008 qualifier at Hampden in October 2006.

"It shows it can be done – and don't forget that we beat them in Paris, too," said Caldwell. "We have to go in against Spain with the same mentality we went into those France games.

"We showed great togetherness, we worked extremely hard and we got the breaks. We will need all of that for Tuesday but if we do we can pull off another massive result. That is the mentality we need.

"There are still three teams fighting it out for second. Nothing has changed because of Friday's result. We still have to face both Lithuania and the Czech Republic at home so we are pretty positive about our chances.

"It is going to be crucial to do the business at Hampden and that includes the Spain game. It is massive for us and if we could get anything from that game it would be a huge bonus.

"It would leave us in a good position and it would give us great confidence for the rest of the campaign."

Levein will change personnel and tactics tomorrow night. The chances are that Caldwell, lately returned from injury, will be on the bench. Steven Naismith, however, has moved up from fringe player to the status of first pick and, but for a precipitate flag for offside given in error against him when he headed on for Graham Dorrans to drive home – when the contest was still scoreless after the break – the outcome of Friday's encounter might have been different.

"The referee told me that I was offside before Dorrans put the ball in the net but I honestly thought I was on. I will look at it again but it doesn't really matter now," said Naismith. The incident was a reminder of how thin is the line that can separate success from failure in football.

That said, the Scots' few meaningful forays upfield suggested that the Czech defence was brittle and vulnerable to pressure. Levein's strategy of jamming the midfield when the Czechs were in possession worked well enough to break up most of their open play but it almost eliminated the possibilities available to Scotland when possession came their way.

With little available space on a bumpy pitch, fluency repeatedly eluded Levein's players. "It was difficult when we got the ball – you could see that," said Caldwell.

"When we got it there weren't many options because we were so compact defensively. We had to try to put two or three passes together and we did that a couple of times in the first half.

"Once we did that they dropped off and we could get possession but as the game wore on we didn't get enough of that."

Naismith concurred with Caldwell's analysis of the difficulty of the formation employed on Friday. "A lot of people were saying we needed support when we broke forward in Prague and that was missing but we have a lot of young lads in the squad now with the legs that are needed," said the Rangers midfielder.

"They are all fit enough to do that job but what we needed was the final ball to open up space. That's what let us down on Friday but I hope we get it on Tuesday.

"We didn't create enough in Prague when we did manage to get forward and that has to change against Spain. A couple of times recently I don't feel we have had the breaks and that can make a difference – let's hope that it does on Tuesday."